Deals To Be Done, Decisions To Be Made & More

Arsene has set the squad their target of finishing as champions at the end of the coming campaign. In the official Arsenal magazine, the manager said:

The aim is to continue to progress as we have been doing. We were very close last year – closer than the previous season – so we are heading in the right way. We hope we can continue that this season. It is important to start well, start strongly and get into a good position early on and to try to maintain the level.

It is a realistic ambition, despite concerns about two positions, namely goalkeeper and centre back. Whilst the former is based on evidence of previous campaigns, the latter is more founded on the step into the unknown that the current squad would be taking. Of those at the club, injury and youth leaves the all bar Vermaelen untested in the Premier League environment. Djourou was robbed of the chance to prove his abilities by injury last term whilst Koscielny has risen through the French Leagues to Arsenal in a short space of time. Nordtveit has spent a couple of seasons on loan to ready him for the Premier League but Wenger would no doubt prefer to bring him through via the Carling and FA Cups this season ahead of challenging for a Premier League starting place.

With that in mind, the apparent re-signing of Campbell is of no surprise. Yet he should not be considered anything other than an experienced head for emergency use, his primary function must surely be to assist in the development of the younger players. Reports suggest that William Gallas has priced himself out of a move to Panathinaikos, all of Serie A and Ligue 1; would it be a surprise if he were to re-sign also?

The wages mentioned do not appear to be outside of Arsenal’s budget and on the basis of last season, Gallas had regained his appetite following his self-destructive actions in the previous eighteen months. Irrespective of our opinions about Gallas the person, the player is still is a world class centre back. If Campbell can be afforded time at an older age, it is not beyond Wenger or the club to offer an opportunity for the Frenchman to continue at Arsenal.

Wenger has himself noted that there should be more numbers defensively. Per Mertesacker has once more surfaced as an alternative to Phil Jagielka and on the basis of quoted figures, represents better value for money than the Everton centre back. The German international has apparently told the media that his future will be resolved next week, £10m the bid likely from Arsenal; a new contract from Werdern Bremen the likely outcome.

Thomas Vermaelen has backed Wenger’s ambitions for 2010-11:

We have a good young group who are very aggressive and want to improve. I think people will always say we can’t compete. It is not the first time, but we have to do what we always do which is work hard and play our own game, then we can compete.

It is not a situation to which Arsenal are unaccustomed. Perenially considered the weakest link of the ‘Big Four’; every season upsetting those views by remaining in situ. That is not the limit of the ambition within the club, nor should it ever be.

Those aims have been boosted in recent weeks over the Cesc Fabregas drama. Barcelona’s pursuit Cesc has long dwindled into empty rhetoric from the Camp Nou personnel at whatever level they are employed. A couple of weeks ago, a subtle change of tack became apparent; the club were no longer the overt target, pressure being turned onto Cesc to hand in a written transfer request.

That appears to have failed if reports this morning are to be believed, the English-based media finally putting the Catalans on the back foot with ‘news’ that the player has been advised not to hand in such a request in order that bridges are not burned upon his return to training in the immediate aftermath of The Emirates Cup.

I suspect that the much reported financial crisis is not as deep as the media would have you believe and that Barcelona are engaged in a game of ‘Transfer Chicken‘ with Arsenal, waiting to see if other targets are positively responsive to overtures before returning to the scene of their original crime with an offer that will make Arsenal sit up and take notice.

Either way, when Fabregas returns to training it will be time to put the media circus to bed. To allow focus for the season which will then be ten days away, a public commitment to Arsenal is required and some may say, well overdue.

’til Tomorrow.